BUTCHER-BIRD. 131 



believed likewise that it sucked the blood of young chil- 

 dren ; and hence it has been dreaded or detested in all 

 ages, probably, however, without any just cause. Its 

 screams indeed are alarming ; and, as it frequently ap- 

 proaches windows where there is a light in the room, a 

 circumstance very common in apartments of the sick at 

 all hours of the night, its voice is equally appalling to 

 the superstitious invalid and to his friends. 



THE BUTCHER-BIRD. 



There are several species of this genus ; but as they 

 agree in their general character, it is unnecessary to enu- 

 merate them all. A description of the greater butcher- 

 bird may serve to convey an adequate idea of the rest. 



The greater butcher-bird is no larger than the black- 

 bird, yet it is very fierce and destructive. The bill is 

 about an inch long, and hooked at the extremity. The 

 crown of the head, the back, and the coverts of the wings, 

 are cinereous ; the quill-feathers are black, with a broad 

 white bar in the middle of each, the throat, breast, and 

 belly, are of a dirty white, and the legs are black. The 

 toes, which are formed differently from those of other 

 birds of prey, seem to make it the connecting link be- 

 tween the carnivorous and the granivorous and insectivor- 

 ous kinds. Accordingly, its habits correspond exactly 

 with its formation, as it feeds indiscriminately on either 

 flesh or insects : but it prefers the former ; and will attack 

 birds much larger than itself with astonishing spirit, and 

 often with success. 



When it has killed a bird or insect, it fixes them on 

 some neighbouring thorn, and tears them to pieces with 

 'its bill, its claws being too weak for this purpose. In 

 summer it resorts to the mountainous parts of the coun- 

 try, but in winter descends into the plains. 



The butcher-bird is extremely affectionate to its young; 

 and. the whole brood, even after they are able to provide 

 for themselves, live in one family. Peace and subordi- 



H 4 



